Who is Laszlo Toth? The architects behind The Brutalist's true story
Discover the real architects who inspired The Brutalist and its fictional hero, László Tóth.
Image: Adrien Brody's character in 'The Brutalist' might be fictional, but it is inspired by some very real and influential figures | BFA / A24 / Alamy Stock Photo
Ambition, displacement and architectural innovation.
These ideas take centre stage in the Oscar-nominated film The Brutalist. The most intriguing part? László Tóth, brought to life by Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody, isn’t a real historical figure. His character blends elements from the lives of Hungarian architects Marcel Breuer and Ernő Goldfinger, as well as Hungarian geologist László Tóth.
At Sky HISTORY, history-inspired storytelling always sparks interest. A film blending fact with fiction? That’s something worth exploring.
The storyline (don’t worry, no spoilers!)
The Brutalist follows László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor, as he starts a new life in the USA. With dreams of success, he crosses paths with a powerful businessman who sees the potential in his Bauhaus training. From there, the story unfolds with ambition, opportunity and plenty of unexpected twists.
Marcel Breuer: a pioneer of Modernism
Born in Hungary in 1902, Marcel Breuer shaped modern architecture through bold, functional design. He was a central figure in the International Style movement and balanced practicality with beauty. Trained under Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, his approach to concrete, steel and glass introduced new possibilities in architecture.
Many recognise Breuer for the Wassily Chair, a striking tubular steel design that redefined modern furniture. The New York Times once described it as one of the most significant chairs of the 20th century.
But his influence stretched beyond interiors. His buildings, defined by striking forms and innovative use of materials, became landmarks of modernist architecture.
Notable works include:
- The Breuer Building in New York. Once part of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Breuer Building stands out with its inverted ziggurat design. Like the Empire State Building, it holds a special place in New York’s architectural identity.
- The UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Proof that raw concrete can be sculptural and elegant. A collaboration with fellow architects Bernard Zehrfuss and Pier Luigi Nervi.
- Saint John’s Abbey Church in Minnesota. A Brutalist masterpiece that pairs religious grandeur with stark, minimal design.
Breuer changed the way architects approached space and materials. His core beliefs? Geometric clarity, honest construction and a seamless balance between function and form.
Image: Saint John's Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota was designed by Marcel Breuer | stock.adobe.com
Ernő Goldfinger: The controversial Brutalist
Ernő Goldfinger, born in Budapest in 1902, followed a different route. After studying in Paris, he made London his home in the 1930s. His concrete-heavy structures sparked both admiration and debate.
A key figure in British modernism, Goldfinger championed Brutalism, a movement focused on raw materials and functional design. His buildings rise stark and imposing, their monolithic forms dominating the landscape.
Notable works include:
- Trellick Tower in London. A 31-storey residential block, once criticised for its fortress-like presence, now a Brutalist icon.
- Balfron Tower in London. A precursor to Trellick Tower, designed for communal high-rise living.
Like Gustave Eiffel, Goldfinger’s work was divisive. Some saw his designs as harsh, others appreciated their strength and function. His work sparked such strong reactions that Ian Fleming, who hated the Brutalist style of architecture, borrowed his name for one of his most infamous James Bond villains, Auric Goldfinger.
Image: Trellick Tower in London was designed by Ernő Goldfinger | stock.adobe.com
Why the name László Tóth matters
While the character of László Tóth in The Brutalist is a composite of Breuer and Goldfinger, the name itself carries a curious historical weight. It’s associated with a Hungarian-born geologist who gained notoriety in 1972 for vandalizing Michelangelo's Pietà in Vatican City. He famously shouted, 'I am the risen Jesus Christ!' as he attacked the marble statue with a hammer. The act of vandalism shocked the world, and Tóth was swiftly declared insane and institutionalised.
Some commentators speculate that the filmmakers deliberately chose the name László Tóth to reflect deeper themes within the film. The real Tóth destroyed a revered masterpiece, whereas the fictional Tóth creates monumental structures. The tension between destruction and creation is central to both art and architecture, and the name may serve as a symbolic nod to this duality.
The Brutalist: fact meets fiction
Like its titular movement, The Brutalist is both divisive and thought-provoking. Director and producer Brady Corbet has been praised for his ‘fact meets fiction’ approach to the film. The result? A piece of art that’s as much about architecture as it is about identity, legacy and the immigrant experience in post-war America.
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